UPLAND >> It may end up costing the city more than $20,000 for its efforts to remove those living in a former tent city last month.

City Manager Stephen Dunn acknowledged he did not know how much had been spent to date — including staff time — but said $15,000 was budgeted for attorney fees.

Another $5,000 was paid to dump 70 tons of trash and another $3,000 was spent on labor.

Who pays for it?

City officials are still not sure who should pick up the cleanup tab for the site, located on private property in the 2100 block of 11th Street.

“We are looking at our options and if we can put a lien on the property,” Dunn said.

Part of the problem for the city is it is unclear who the owns the site because it is going through bankruptcy.

Earlier this month, Upland obtained a court order to evict the group because they said the camp had grown to more than 100 people. City officials had been contacted by neighboring business owners who complained the site had become a public nuisance.

However, homeless people and members of faith-based groups argue that only 25 people lived in the make-shift tents nestled around dirt and rock piles on the property.

Weeks after the cleanup, the nearly five-acre lot remains uninhabited. Gone is a tree at the front of the property as well as other vegetation along the property. Old wooden poles and rocks now line the edge of the property near the sidewalk, as if to block any cars from being able to drive onto the property, which was possible in the past.

Rosemary Hoerning, Public Works director for Upland said cleanup crews had to use 10, 40-yard dumpsters to remove what was left behind. In all, 90 tons was removed from the site.

“I anticipated there would be five (Dumpsters). There was a lot of material that was on the site that needed to be cleaned up, and we did remove some vegetation as well,” Hoerning said.

Former tent city occupants and members of the community continue to voice their displeasure over the city’s action, calling on them to help find shelter or a safe place to camp for those impacted.

Upland resident Janice Elliott pleaded that the city help out.

“My heart goes out to these people, they need a place to live,” she said.

A new document that addresses the city’s housing needs through 2021, was recently approved by the council, included adjustments to address homelessness. Among the updates included a change in building codes to allow for a shelter or an intake center to be built just south of the downtown, in the industrial zone. Upland officials acknowledged they don’t have the funds and it will require the outside organizations to make it possible. “Once that zoning is in place, nonprofits and faith-based organizations are free to pool their money, get donations, do fundraising campaigns to acquire property in that designation to develop a shelter and develop the services in the community,” said Kimberly Hall Barlow, the city’s attorney.

The document also outlines a process for a service council to be formed to address homelessness. In addition, it encourages the city take action to help affordable housing get built, such as offering incentives, expediting the permit process for low income housing development — nonmonetary assistance that would be helpful for nonprofits desiring to build affordable housing.

“I think with the creation of this zone, that’s where the city’s job ends and that’s where the rest of our job begins,” said Upland resident Eric Gavin.

Community Services Director Roberta Knighten said a task force was formed two months ago to help address the issue as well.

The task force is comprised of local nonprofits, the faith-based community and individuals who helped conduct the homeless count. Their aim is to help find locations where the homeless can shower and find meals, Knighten said.

“It has to be a collective effort,” she said.

The task force meetings are open to the public and are held the second Tuesday of every month, 6 p.m. at Carnegie Library, 450 N Euclid Ave.

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